Electric controller



E. J. CARROLL.

ELECTRIC CONTROLLER. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23. 1916.

1,350,003, Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

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ELECTRIC CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, I916.

Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMIL J. CARROLL, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ELECTRIC CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1'7, 1920.

Application filed November 23, 1916. Serial No. 183,061.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL J. CARROLL, citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Controllers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric controllers, and more particularly to controllers for electrically driven machines, such as washing machines or the like.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved controller operated by one or more pilot motors and capable of controlling the operation of any desired number of machines; which is of simple form and built in units each controlling a single machine, whereby the controller board can be enlarged or re-arranged from time to time as the number of separate machines increases; and which is so arranged as to avoid cumulative starting current peaks.

Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings Figure l is an elevation of a panel board embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view; Fig.3 is an enlarged view of the speed reducing gearing; F1 4 is a broken out front elevation thereof; ig. 5 is an end view of a coupling; and Fig. 6 is a side view thereof.

The controller shown in the drawings is a panel form and comprises a suitable frame or base 1, which may be of wood, metal, or the like, to which are bolted a ser es of one "or more panel bodies 2 of insulating material, such as slate, marble, or the like. The several panel bodies are of rectangular form and are arranged in rows up and down and across the board, like a checker board. The frame is of skeleton construction and suitably arranged so that it can be extended in either direction to increase the number of panel bodies as desired.

Each panel body is designed to carry the necessary switches for controlling the supply of current for operating a single machine. The machines may be of any type, form or construction each one being driven by its own motor or motors. For example, the invention may be applied for controlling a number of washin machines in a laundry, although not imited to the .tions in alinement.

control of any special form of machine. \Vaslnng machines are periodically reversed and are usually allowed to coast'with the power off to gradually come to rest before each reversal 'to relieve the gearing from strain, and it is usually also necessary to insert starting resistance in the motor circult when it begins to rotate in each direction, to prevent sudden rush of current to the motor. The particular form of motor, whether of the alternating or direct current type, and the particular arrangement of switches and circuits necessary to produce proper operation of the motor and machine form no part of this invention and therefore require no description, although one suitable arrangement for the purpose is shown in the. patent to Thomas S. l/Vatson, granted March 5, 1907, N 0. 845,831, to which reference may be had for a description of the motor circuits and switches.

Each machine to be controlled has a corresponding unit in the panel controller, and as said units are alike description of one will sufiice for all. Each unit 2 carries a shaft section 3 on which are a series of drum contacts leach cooperating with one or more brushes 5. The several drum contacts are stepped in various positions around the shaft, are of varying circumferential length, and are connected to the several motor and starting resistance circuits as is usual, it being understood that said circuits are so arranged, for example, as in the Watson patent referred to, as to produce a complete cycle of operations of the machine for each complete rotation of the shaft.

The shaft section 3 on each panel body terminates substantially at the two opposite edges of said body where it is provided with a coupling member 6 suitably connected as by a key 7, to rotate with said shaft, and having outwardly extending ears 8 provided with radial slots 9.

The shaft section 3 on a series or row of panels are arranged in axial alinement with each other and are connected by disk couplin s10. having pins 11 entering the slots "of a jacent coupling members 6, as shown in care of slight variahe first shaft section 3 of a row is likewise connected bya similar coupling device to a driven shaft 12 which Fig. 6, thereby taking when operated turns all of the connected shaft sections and the controlling switch members carried thereby.

One feature of the present invention is the definite setting of the reversing drums on different panel mountings relative to each other so that no two motors can start at once. Each series of shaft sections when coupled as described, constitutes a single shaft and the sets of drums thereon for the different motors are stepped in angular relation around the axis of said shaft for the purpose stated. For example if four machines are to be controlled the sets of drums for the several machines, motors are stepped around the shaft axis each 90 in advance of the proceeding one. The four motors therefore start in order at intervals of one quarter of a cycle, thereby distributing the variations in current load over the entire cycle, equalizing the current demand, and obviating cumulative starting current peaks.

The angular relation between successive sets of controlling drums of course always depends upon the total number of motors to I38 driven from the same current leads or to be controlled by the same panel board. The

stepped relation may be secured in any desired manner, either by mounting the several coupling members for angular adjustment on the shaft sections or, as shown, by keying said coupling members on the shaft and stepping the keys 7 at the opposite ends of each shaft section around its axis the proper amount to establish the required fixed relation.

At the edge of the first panel body ofthe series is located a motor base 13, which may be attached to the frame 1, and which supports a pilot motor 141 and a suitable speed reducing and ratchet mechanism indicated generally at 15, and which operates the switch driving shaft 12. The motor shaft is connected by a coupling 16 to a worm shaft 17 journaled in the casing 18 and whose worm 19 meshes with a worm gear 20 connected to a pinion 21 which drives a large gear 22 connected to a pinion 23 meshing with a gear 24 loose on the shaft 12. Said gear 24 carries a pawl or dog 25 held. by a spring 26 against a sleeve 27 retatable with the shaft 12, and adapted to engage a notch or recess 28 in said sleeve for driving said shaft.

Shaft 12 also extends above the casing 18 and is provided with a bevel gear 29 meshing with a bevel gear 30 on a shaft 31 extending in a direction normal to the shaft 12 and parallel with the plane of the panels. This shaft is for use in coupling the drums on two or more rows of panel bodies when the board is extended in two directions, as shown in .Fig. 1. In this case each vertical row of units has its drum shaft connected by bevel gears to the transverse shaft 31,

and said shaft is made up in sections, like the shaft sections iifand joined at the meeting edges of panels by couplings -32 similar to the couplings between the sections 3. The couplings 3:2 may also be angularly spaced around the axis of the shaft 31 to further distribute the load on the generator, as will be readily understood.

In the controller shown there are only two rows of units, although any. number of rows may be employed, each of which rows has its individual pilot motor 14 and speed reducing and ratchet mechanism 15. Each pilot motor has its individual starting and stopping switch 33. The arrangement. is therefore such that either pilot motor may be utilized for driving the control devices, the notched sleeve 27 of the idle motor rotating idly past its ratchet tooth. This decreases the liability of shutting down the machines because of accident to the pilot motor. If one mot-or burns out or is injured the other can be brought into operation withoutinterrupting the running of the machine.

The controller described is of particular value in its ability to cope with the increasing needs of a growing plant. The owner can first acquire the initial panel of a set, in other words, the upper left hand panel in Fig. 1, together with the pilot motor and gearing. These parts may be inclosed in a suitable casing (notv shown) and attached directly to a single machine.- When another machine is purchased the unit panel therefor can be assembled with the first unit on a common base and additional units assembled therewith as the plant grows. An additional pilot motor and set of gearing can be added when the number of units requires it or warrants the expense. As units are added their definite setting with relation to each other is established to obviate cumulative starting current peaks.

It will of course be understood that the invention is capable of considerable modification and variation within the limits of the appended claims and is not limited to the exact form shown. 7

What I claim is 1. An electric control board unit, comprising a panel body, a rotary shaft thereon, machine controlling switches on said panel body operated by said shaft, said shaft terminating at opposite edges of the panel body, and couplings on the ends of the shaft for operati'vely connecting it to adjacent shaft members.

2. An electric control board, comprising a panel body, a rotary shaft thereon, machine controlling switches on said panel body operated by Saidshaft, a base located at one edge of saidpanel body, a pilot motor carried thereby, a shaft on said base in alinement with said switch operating shaft and driven by said motor, and a couplin for said two shafts located at the edge 0 said panel body.

3. An electric control board, comprising a series of panel bodies located side by side, a rotary shaft member on each body carrying a set of machine controlling switches, couplings connecting the meeting ends of adjacent shaft members, said several shaft members and the switches thereon being angularly spaced around the shaft axis to begin the cycles of different machines at intervals, and means for rotating said shaft members.

4. An electric control board, comprising a series of panel bodies located side by side, a constantly rotating shaft member on each body, a set of machine controlling switches operated thereby, couplings connecting the meeting ends of adjacent shaft members, two pilot motors, and means whereby either motor may operate all of said shaft members without disturbing the connection of the other motor thereto.

5. An electric control board, comprising a series of rows of panel bodies located side by side, a shaft member on each body carrying a set of machine controlling switches, the shaft members in each row being longitudinally alined and in the several rows being parallel, couplings connecting the meeting ends of adjacent longitudinally alined shaft members, and a motor for driving said shaft members.

6. An electric control board, comprising a series of rowsvof panel bodies located side by side, a shaft member on each body carrying a set of machine controlling switches, the shaft members in each row being longi-. tudinally alined and in the several rows being parallel, couplings connecting the meeting ends of adjacent longitudinally alined shaft members, a plurality of motors, and operative connections between each of said motors and said shaft members so arranged that either motor may operate all of said shaft members without disturbing the connection of the other motor thereto.

7. An electric control board, comprising a series of rows of panel bodies located side by side, a shaft member on each bod carrying a set-of machine controlling switches, the shaft members for the several rows being parallel, couplings connecting the meeting ends of adjacent shaft members, two motors, and speed reducing gearing connecting each of said motors to said shaft members.

8. An electric control board, comprising a series of rows of panel bodies located side by side, a shaft member on each bod carrying a set of machine controlling switches, the shaft members for the several rows being parallel, couplings connecting the meeting ends of adjacent shaft members, two motors, and speed reducing gearim including a ratchet device connecting each of said motors to said shaft members.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signa ture.

EMIL J. CARROLL.

Witnesses:

Jos. SPELLER, R. L. MENZEL. 

